{"id":7699,"date":"2026-05-19T04:03:35","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T04:03:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=7699"},"modified":"2026-05-19T04:03:35","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T04:03:35","slug":"at-cal-state-las-graduation-2026-tennis-legend-billie-jean-king-just-got-her-degree-and-served-up-a-message-for-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=7699","title":{"rendered":"At Cal State LA\u2019s Graduation 2026, tennis legend Billie Jean King just got her degree, and served up a message for life"},"content":{"rendered":"

Graduation season is in full swing and at Cal State L.A.\u2019s commencement ceremony on Monday, May 18, one special graduate stood out in the crowd: Billie Jean King.<\/p>

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Walking across the stage in her cap, gown, iconic hot pink glasses and blue Adidas sneakers, the 82-year-old tennis legend accepted her diploma, more than 60 years after beginning her studies at the campus.<\/p>\n

The ceremony inside the Shrine Auditorium was among a series of Cal State LA ceremonies this week honoring 6,000 students. Monday\u2019s displayed the typical pomp and circumstance: students dressed to the nines, the hoots and hollers of proud family members and rows of hopeful graduates listening intently to the remarks of their fellow graduates.<\/p>\n

And there was King, not your typical graduate. Smiling. Her graduation stole proudly draped on her gown. \u201cStudent\u201d on one side and \u201cathlete\u201d on the other. She was back for some \u201cunfinished business,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

She was the keynote speaker, with a message for the Class of 2026, forged from an epic career and life: \u201cDon\u2019t let others define you. You define yourself,\u201d she said. \u201cPressure is a privilege, and champions adapt.\u201d<\/p>\n